This comprehensive beautifully illustrated book examines Chinese dress in it's entirety, from court and formal costumes through to the working attire of the lower classes and the latest fashions of the New China. The author skilfully weaves the story of Chinese dress in all its variations - from the elaborate and formal to the everyday. The first four chapters cover attire worn during the Qing dynasty for the emperors and their consorts, as well as the mandarins, merchants, and their womenfolk, both Manchu and Chinese. The following four chapters pay particular attention to the dramatic changes in clothing which took place in China from the Republican period, including rural dress and children's wear, through to dress in New China from 1949 to the present day. The book is illustrated with over 450 images of garments and accessories from collections, as well as unpublished or little-known archive material.